|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
I missed Saroj Khan during making of 'Aaja Nach Le': Madhuri Dixit |
|
| |
New Delhi, Nov 27: Bollywood queen Madhuri Dixit, who is making a comeback after a long hiatus with 'Aaja Nach Le,' scheduled to premiere in theatres this Friday, confesses that she missed choreographer Saroj Khan during the making of her comeback film.
"Obviously, I missed her during the making of the film. I am a big fan of Saroj Khan," says the dancing diva who regards Saroj Khan as her guru and mentor. "My name is always synonymous with Sarojji and her dances," Madhuri told PTI in an exclusive interview.
Vaibhavi Merchant, who choreographed the hit number 'Kajrare' has directed Madhuri's dance sequences in 'Aaja Nach Le,' which previously was rumoured to have been reserved for Saroj Khan.
The 'Dhak Dhak' girl, however, maintains that Vaibhavi has also done a very good job in the film. "She has worked very hard on this movie and has done very good choreography, says the actress who was last seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus 'Devdas' where she essayed the role of a courtesan and won applause for her performance especially her dances.
Madhuri, who is acknowledged to be one of greatest dancers Bollywood has ever had admits that Vaibhavi might not have had things easy because of her superstar status.
"She has watched me do all kind of dances from 'Ek Do Teen' (from 'Tezaab') to 'Hum Ko Aaj Kal Hai Intezaar' (from 'Sailaab'), so she knows the body of my work in the past. And somewhere in her mind she knew that she has to rise about all that, and do something, if not better than at least, equal to what I have done in the past," says the dancing diva. |
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
Textile sector cutting back on jobs |
|
| |
|
|
| |
New Delhi, Nov 27: With rupee appreciation adversely affecting apparel export, the second largest employment generator, the textile sector, which employs 25 million workers, has started cutting back on jobs and laying off workers to contain costs.
"The total job loss for the textile industry for this year touched five lakh and about 35,000 jobs have been lost in April alone due to an 18.25 per cent decline in exports because of sharp appreciation in rupee," says P D Patodia, Chairman, Confederation of Indian Textile Industry.
According to industry estimates, textiles exports have declined by 6.8 per cent during the April-May period of 2007-08, while cotton yarn has seen a negative growth of 9.9 per cent. India's textile exports amounted to USD 19 billion last year and the target for this fiscal was set at USD 25 billion.
"We have demanded an increase in duty drawback rates, reduction in interest rates for pre and post shipment credit as well as exemption from service tax. The export target of 25 billion dollars set for the current fiscal is unlikely to be achieved with this growth," Patodia adds.
Vivek Kumar, Senior Merchandiser, Maya Exports, which does business in US dollars, says that his company suffered heavy losses in export orders of 10-20 per cent this year. "Most of the big export companies has done retrenchment upto 40 per cent to contain costs," he says.
He adds, 80-90 per cent of Indias textile exports are dollar denominated and with declining exports, the companies have released employees in a bid to contain costs and the worst hit by this slump is textile mill workers. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
'Khoya Khoya Chand' can be a take on Guru Dutt: Prakash Jha |
|
| |
New Delhi, Nov 27: Noted filmmaker Prakash Jha, whose latest film as a producer, 'Khoya Khoya Chand' is slated to be released shortly feels that the film can have shades of legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt's life.
"It can look like that, since it is a story of a young actress played by Soha, and a writer played by Shiney and the chemistry between them is very good. So the characters can have shades of the legendary film-maker's life," Jha says.
"The script, the concept of the film is good, It is based on the 50-60s era of the film industry, so it captures the glamour, the set and everything related to that period. With this backdrop, I think it will make a good film," he adds.
The National award winner filmmaker, who is acclaimed for films like 'Apaharan', 'GangaaJal', 'Mrityudand', 'Damul' and 'Parinati' is all set to direct his next film, 'Rajniti'.
"It is a film that tries to understand the democratic set up of our country and the equation of politics. Ajay and Nana are playing the protagonists and you will find many other actors who were there in my other films like Yashpal Sharma, etc. The process is also on to cast two strong female actors for the film," he says.
Prakash Jha, who has two television features and three television series under his belt, is also planning to take a dive into the Indian TV industry once again. Fed up with the regular 'weeping mistress' saas-bahus, Jha is planning to make some TV serials.
"There should be something different from the regular sash-bahu saga, so I am planning to start a satellite and TV channel, which will produce different genres of serials," he says. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Gandhi's charkha goes hi-fi! |
|
| |
New Delhi, Nov 27: Light, action and entertainment! The hand-cranked spinning wheel, popularised by the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, has now been given an electronic tweak to transform it into a hi-tech gadget that not only produces yarn but also light a bulb on demand and is can even power a transistor radio.
Called the 'e-charkha,' the invention by a Bangalore-based engineer is an ordinary charkha fitted with a battery and connected to a LED light. The energy produced by the charkha while it is being spun is used to charge the battery attached to the bottom of the spinning wheel and the power thus generated can power up a LED light used in home lamps.
The maintenance-free lead battery fixed to the charkha functions as an inverter, and charges itself from the energy generated when the charkha is spun.
"The big spinning wheel is connected to a generator and using the charkha for approximately two hours can generate enough power to light up an LED bulb, or to play a small transistor radio for around 6 to 7 hours," says Hiremath, an engineer who has patented the invention.
Launched formally by the President, Pratibha Devisingh Patil at the function in the capital recently the gadget has won approval of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, which is planning to induct two lakh pieces across Khadhi weaving centres across the county.
The engineer, whose company Flexitron, has patented the invention says, "In remote areas of the country, uninterrupted and regular electricity is still a dream. The charkhas will help boost the income of the weavers in rural and far-flung areas as well as break the monotony that they are accustomed to. They can listen to the radio while they spin." |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Shillong raring for a 'Night with the Scorpion' |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Shillong, Nov 27: "Thank God the scorpion picked on me and spared my children" - goes Nissim Ezekiel famous poem 'Night with the Scorpions'. But this time, the Scorpions will not spare the music-savvy 'children' of this rock-crazy city.
After rocking to the tunes of MLTR, Eric Martin and Sepultura, Shillong is waiting with baited breath for its first ever encounter with the fabulous German rock band Scorpions.
The famous heavy metal band is going to perform in Shillong, which is emerging as the most favored destination in the country for international rock bands - on December 12 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex as part of its 'Humanity World Tour.
"We will rock like a hurricane," said Rudolf Schenker, the rhythm guitarist and founder of the internationally acclaimed rock band, during a telephonic interaction from Germany.
"We simply can't wait to see you, to make you happy...to be happy. We will play all the favourite numbers, from Winds of Change, Rock You Like a Hurricane, Big City Night to the recent Humanity," Rudolf crackled, adding that the band would be happy to get the 'public demands' in advance.
Even though the show is scheduled for 2 hours, Rudolph promised, "The show would go on if the crowd starts rocking."
"Mr Big (Eric Martin), who recently had a show in Shillong, told us about this amazing city, which is fantastic and unbelievable," Rudolf said, adding, "I love India and I have been following its philosophy and yoga since the age of 18." |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Medical science in television serials |
|
| |
|
|
| |
New Delhi, Nov 22: From a slice of hospital life to the achievements of medical heroes and their contribution to Indian medicine, the 'medical profession' has given subjects to young and creative directors for making tele-serials on such topics.
Many television serials have already been on air, showing a slice of hospital life, and medical practitioners lives'.
Some of them include Sanjivani, Lifeline, Dhadkan, and Dill Mill Gayye. And latest in the row is a popular Medical Science Weekly Magazine 'Kar Bhala Soch Bhala' (KBSB), which has very recently completed 100 weeks on Doordarshan National Channel and is still going strong.
Inspired by the cardinal medical motto: 'Primum Non Nocere, KBSB means First Do No Harm in English and is also World Health Organisation's advice for responsible medical journalism.
Started in August, 2005, KBSB touches all medical science and health related topics. "Medical science is the perfect topic for a TV series. It has the interest of all age groups and class," says Shubhadarshini Singh, Producer-Director of the weekly medical series.
The weekly series began its medical programme on Doordarshan, on the occasion of 'World Malaria Day' as a tribute to Ronald Ross, who won the nobel for medicine in 1902.
About the programme, she says, "Kar Bhala Soch Bhala" is a medical magazine. Anchor in the programme sometimes talk like an editorial, which is how he wants to explain the topic in the series. "Thing we love to do is history of medicine, which unfortunately in our country, has been done so little. Even we will not find people taking much interest in the lives of medical people." |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
